Longhorns bring a great season in Big Sandy to an end

Most of the time, when Big Sandy has played this season, teams haven’t had an answer for running back Kade Strutz. But Saturday in Wibaux, it was the Pioneers that didn’t have an answer for Chance Larson.

Following its win over White Sulphur Springs last week, Big Sandy traveled to Wibaux Saturday for the quarterfinals of the Six-Man state playoffs, however, that is where the postseason journey would end. Larson scored four touchdowns for the Longhorns, who advanced to the semifinals with a 48-14 win.

While Larson, who scored four times in the first half, was stellar, the Wibaux defense was even better and slowed down the Big Sandy offense like no other team this season. It was the first time Big Sandy was held under 20 points and also the first game that Strutz, who rushed for over 200 yards and six touchdowns a week ago, didn’t find the end zone.

Early on, the Pioneers went toe-to-toe with the Longhorns, the champion of the Eastern C, but at the end of the first quarter, Wibaux still led 6-0 thanks to a 10-yard touchdown run from Larson. Then, for a short time, Big Sandy pulled ahead, as Parker Proulx connected with Ryan Roth on a nine-yard touchdown pass. The point after was good and early in the second stanza, Big Sandy led 8-6.

Yet, the lead wouldn’t last and that’s in part because Larson owned the rest of the second quarter, scoring three touchdowns to give the Longhorns a 26-8 halftime lead. The only score in the third quarter also came from Wibaux, as a one-yard run from Cade Dschaak made the score 32-8.

Big Sandy forced a turnover in the early stages of the fourth quarter and capitalized when Proulx found Roth for another score, which trimmed the lead to 32-14. That was as close as Big Sandy would get. Wibaux added a pair of insurance touchdowns and the final margin was 34 points.

The Longhorns are one of three teams from the Eastern Division of Six-Man football to make the semifinals. Wibaux will travel to Winnett-Grass Range with a berth in the state championship game on the line, while the other side of the bracket will feature Richey-Lambert and Jordan. Richey-Lambert upset Geraldine/Highwood this past weekend. Jordan beat Hot Springs. The state championship game is set for Nov. 17.

Big Sandy 0 8 0 6 - 14

Wibaux 6 20 6 14 - 48

WBX - Chance Larson 10 run (kick failed)

BSY - Ryan Roth 9 pass from Parker Proux ( kick)

WBX - Chance Larson 48 run (Cade Dschaak pass from Tel Lunde)

WBX - Chance Larson 18 pass from Tel Lunde (Chance Larson pass from Tel Lunde)

WBX - Chance Larson 40 pass from Tel Lunde (pass failed)

WBX - Cade Dschaak 3 run (kick failed)

BSY - Ryan Roth 5 pass from Parker Proux (kick failed)

WBX - Cade Dschaak 1 run (Wyatt Davis run)

WBX - Jared Fisher 9 pass from Tel Lunde (Wyatt Davis run)